לערב ראש השנה 3

כג. ע"פ א"ב כפול. חיברו רבנו שלמה ב"ר יצחק (רש"י)

The following prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi).

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת,

Adonoy, God of Hosts,

נוֹרָא בָעֶלְיוֹנִים.

Who is feared by the heavenly angels,

אָמַרְתָּ שׁוּבוּ בָנִים סַרְבָנִים:

You said, “Repent you stubborn children,

בֹּאוּ עָדַי בְּתוֹדָה וּבִרְנָנִים.

come to Me with thanksgiving and praise,

בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנַי

seek My Presence

בִּבְכִי וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים:

with tears and supplications.

גַּם כִּי־נִסְתְּמָה

Though the doors are closed

תְּפִלַּת הֶגְיוֹנִים.

to expressions of prayer,

גַּלֵּי שָׁבִים פְּתוּחִים

the gates are open to the penitent—

כֵּיוָנִים:

even the windows,

דְּבָרְךָ נִצָּב לְעוֹלְמֵי עִדָּנִים.

Your words stand firm for all time;

דַּרְכֵי־טוּבְךָ

Your ways of goodness

נֶצַח לֹא שׁוֹנִים:

are forever unchangeable.

הִנְּנוּ אָתָאנוּ־לְךָ

Behold, we come before You

כְּדַלִּים וְאֶבְיוֹנִים.

like the poor and needy,

הַצְּדָקוֹת לְךָ,

the righteousness is Yours,

וְלָנוּ הָעֲווֹנִים:

and the iniquity is ours,

וְעָדֶיךָ שַׁבְנוּ בְּבֹשֶׁת־הַפָּנִים.

we return to You with shameful faces,

וְעַל־דַּלְתוֹתֶיךָ הוֹגִים כַּיּוֹנִים:

and at Your gates we moan like doves.

זָכְרֵנוּ לְחַיִּים מְתֻקָּנִים.

Remember us for a [good] proper life,

זַכֵּה כְתָמֵינוּ

cleanse our stains

צַחִים מֻלְבָּנִים:

that they be pure and white,

חַטֹּאת נְעוּרֵינוּ מְחֵה

erase the sins of our youth,

כַּעֲנָנִים.

let them vanish like clouds;

חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְיָמִים קַדְמוֹנִים:

renew our days as the days of old.¹Before we sinned.

טֻמְאָה הַעֲבֵר

Remove [our] defilement

וְהָתֵם הַזֵּדוֹנִים.

and abolish [our] presumptuous sins,

טַהֳרָה

cleanse [us]

תִּזְרֹק מַיִם־הַנֶּאֱמָנִים:

sprinkle upon us the faithful [pure] waters.

יָדַעְנוּ רִשְׁעֵנוּ

We know our wickedness,

סָרָבִים וְסַלּוֹנִים.

we are rebellious and as evil as thorns,

יַקְשׁוּת־עָרְפֵּנוּ חָסוֹן כָּאַלּוֹנִים:

our necks are as stiff as oaks.

כֶּרֶם נִטְעֵנוּ

The vineyard of our planting,

סִגְסֵג נִצָּנִים.

is overgrown with weeds [sins]

כָּסּוּ פָנָיו חֲרֻלִּים קִמְשׁוֹנִים:

it is covered with nettles and thorns [evil]

לִמּוּדֵי הָרֵעַ

accustomed to doing evil,

צְמוּדֵי־חַמָּנִים.

clinging to sun-deities,

לוֹקְחֵי־שֹׁחַד רוֹדְפֵי־שַׁלְמוֹנִים:

taking bribes, pursuing pay-offs.

מַהֵר קִלְקַלְנוּ

We have quickly profaned

חֻפַּת חִתּוּנִים.

the wedding-canopy²The giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai is compared to a wedding canopy.

מֵאָז הֻסַּגְנוּ לְאָחוֹר

since then we have been thrust backward

וְלֹא־לְפָנִים.

and not forward,

נָעוּ זִבְחֵי הַכָּרִים הַמִּשְׁנִים.

gone are the sacrifices of choice rams,

נִיחֹחֵי רֵיחַ־קְטֹרֶת סַמְמָנִים:

the fragrance of the incense-offerings.

שַֹר חֲמִשִּׁים

Gone are the captain(s) of fifty,

יוֹעֵץ וּנְשֹוּא־פָנִים.

the advisor(s), the man (men) of honor,

סֶגֶן

the deputy [High Priest],

מָשׁוּחַ לְוִיִּים

the Annointed [High Priest], the Levites,

וְאַהֲרֹנִים:

and the Aaronites [sons of Aaron].

עֲמִידָתֵנוּ רְאֵה דַּלִּים וְרֵיקָנִים.

Behold! we stand impoverished and empty

עֲצֵבֵי־רוּחַ מְרוֹרִים כְּלַעֲנִים:

grieved in spirit, bitter as wormwood.

פְּקַדְנוּךָ בַּצַּר

We remember You in our distress

לַחַשׁ צְקוֹנִים.

with an outpouring of prayers,

פַּחַד דִּינֶךָ

in fear of Your judgement,

דּוֹאֲגִים וּמִתְאוֹנְנִים:

we worry and groan;

צֶמַח־צְדָקָה הַצְמַח

let righteousness spring forth

לְנֶּאֱמָנִים.

for the faithful,

צַוֵּה לְהַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת רִאשֹׁנִים:

Order the removal of our early iniquities.

קוֹל הַקּוֹרֵא

Let the voice [of our prayer] that calls,

יַשְׁבִּית מְדַיְנִים.

put an end to those who contend with us,

קַטֵּגוֹר יַהַס

let it hush the accuser

וְיַשְׁתִּיק נִרְגָּנִים:

and silence the antagonists.

רוּחַ נְכֵאָה,

Let our humble spirit,

דִּכְּאוּת לֵב שִׁבְרוֹנִים.

our subdued and broken hearts,

רָצוֹן יַעֲלוּ

be as acceptable to You

כְּחֶלְבֵי קָרְבָּנִים:

as the fat of the sacrifice.

שְׁבוּעַת־אָבוֹת

The oath You swore to the Patriarchs—

הָקֵים לַבָּנִים.

fulfill unto their children,

שַׁוְעַת־קוֹרְאֶיךָ

the cry of Your callers

תִּשְׁמַע מִמְּעוֹנִים:

hear from heaven;

תָּכִין לִבָּם לְיִרְאָתְךָ מוּכָנִים.

prepare their hearts to fear You,

תַּקְשִׁיב אָזְנֶיךָ

may Your ear be attentive

שִֹיחַ־חִנּוּנִים:

to the words of their supplication.

שׁוּב לְהַעֲלוֹת עַמְּךָ

Return to raise Your people

מִשְּׁאוֹנִים.

from destruction,

מַהֵר יְקַדְּמוּנוּ

let come swiftly to us

רַחֲמֶיךָ קַדְמוֹנִים.

Your former mercy,

בְּרִיבָם

in their judgement,

יֵצְאוּ חֲנוּנֶיךָ כֵּנִים.

let Your favored ones be found innocent.

קוִֹים חֲסָדֶיךָ

They hope for Your lovingkindness,

וְעַל־רַחֲמֶיךָ שְׁעוּנִים:

and depend on Your compassion.

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים

For in Your abundant mercy

אָנוּ בְטוּחִים,

we trust,

וְעַל צִדְקוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים,

and on Your righteousness, we rely,

וְלִסְלִיחוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ מְקַוִּים,

and for Your pardon, we hope,

וְלִישׁוּעָתְךָ אָנוּ מְצַפִּים:

and for Your deliverance, we yearn.

אַתָּה הוּא מֶלֶךְ,

You are a King

אוֹהֵב צְדָקוֹת מִקֶּדֶם,

Who loves righteousness from of old,

מַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ,

Who passes over the iniquities of His people,

וּמֵסִיר חַטֹּאת יְרֵאָיו:

and removes the sins of those who fear Him.

כּוֹרֵת בְּרִית לָרִאשׁוֹנִים,

You made a covenant with the Patriarchs,

וּמְקַיֵּם שְׁבוּעָה

and will keep [Your] oath

לָאַחֲרוֹנִים:

with their descendants.

אַתָּה הוּא, שֶׁיָּרַדְתָּ

You are He Who descended

בַּעֲנַן כְּבוֹדֶךָ עַל הַר סִינַי,

in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai,

וְהֶרְאֵיתָ דַּרְכֵי טוּבְךָ

and disclosed the ways of Your goodness

לְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ:

to Moses, Your servant.

וְאָרְחוֹת חֲסָדֶיךָ

The ways of Your kindliness,

גִּלִּיתָ לוֹ,

You revealed to him;

וְהוֹדַעְתּוֹ

and You made known to him

כִּי אַתָּה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן,

that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד

Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness,

וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב,

and full of beneficence,

וּמַנְהִיג אֶת־כָּל־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ

guiding the entire world

בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים:

with the quality of mercy.

וְכֵן כָּתוּב:

And so it is written:

וַיֹּאמֶר

“And He said:

אֲנִי אַעֲבִיר

‘I will cause to pass

כָּל־טוּבִי עַל־פָּנֶיךָ

all My goodness before you,

וְקָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם יְהוָה

and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy

לְפָנֶיךָ.

in your presence;

וְחַנֹּתִי

I will be gracious

אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן,

to whom I will be gracious,

וְרִחַמְתִּי

and I will be compassionate

אֶת־אֲשֶׁר אֲרַחֵם:

to whom I will be compassionate.’”

אֵל אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּֽיִם אַתָּה.

You are Almighty, Slow to Anger,

וּבַֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים נִקְרֵֽאתָ.

Lord of Mercy, You are called,

וְדֶֽרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה הוֹרֵֽיתָ:

and the way of repentance, You have taught us.

גְּדֻלַּת רַחֲמֶֽיךָ וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ.

The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness,

תִּזְכֺּר הַיּוֹם וּבְכָל־יוֹם

remember this day and every day

לְזֶֽרַע יְדִידֶֽיךָ:

for the descendants of Your loved ones.

תֵּֽפֶן אֵלֵֽינוּ בְּרַחֲמִים.

Turn to us with compassion

כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים:

for You are the Lord of Mercy.

בְּתַחֲנוּן וּבִתְפִלָּה

With supplication and prayer

פָּנֶֽיךָ נְקַדֵּם.

we approach Your Presence,

כְּהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made known

לֶעָנָיו מִקֶּֽדֶם:

to [Moses,] the modest one of old.

מֵחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ שׁוּב.

From Your fierce anger turn,

כְּמוֹ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב:

as it is written in Your Torah.

וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ

In the shadow of Your wings,

נֶחֱסֶה וְנִתְלוֹנָן.

may we be sheltered and lodged,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַיֵֽרֶד יְהֺוָה בֶּעָנָן:

“When Adonoy descended in the cloud.”

תַּעֲבֺר עַל־פֶּֽשַׁע

Remove [our] transgression,

וְתִמְחֶה אָשָׁם.

and blot out [our] iniquity,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם:

“And He stood with him there.”

תַּאֲזִין שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ

Give ear to our cry

וְתַקְשִׁיב מֶֽנוּ מַאֲמַר.

and listen to our speech,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה,

“And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֺוָה עַל פָּנָיו

“And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֺוָה יְהֺוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת:

and Abundant in Kindness and Truth.

נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים

for thousands of generations,

נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע

Endurer of iniquity and transgression,

וְחַטָּאָה

and sin,

וְנַקֵּה:

And Acquitter of those who repent.”

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.”

סְלַח־לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי־חָטָֽאנוּ.

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

מְחַל־לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי־פָשָֽׁעְנוּ:

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

כִּי־אַתָּה אֲדֺנָי

For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל־קוֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.

אַל תָּבֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ

Do not enter into judgment with us,

כִּי לֹא יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶֽיךָ כָּל חָי:

for no living soul will be justified before You.

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ

Seek Adonoy when He is accessible,

קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב׃

call Him when He is near.

קָרוֹב יְהוָה לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו,

Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him,

לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת׃

to all who call upon Him in truth.

קָרוֹב יְהוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב

Adonoy is close to the broken-hearted,

וְאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־רוּחַ יוֹשִׁיעַ׃

and those crushed in spirit, He delivers.

כִּי מִי־גוֹי גָּדוֹל

For what nation is there so great

אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרֹבִים אֵלָיו

that has God so near unto them,

כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

as Adonoy, our God

בְּכָּל־קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו׃

in all that we call upon Him?

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עֲשֵׂה

For Your sake, our God, act!

וְלֹא לָנוּ.

and not for our sake.

רְאֵה עֲמִידָתֵֽנוּ דַּלִּים וְרֵקִים:

See how we stand impoverished and empty.

כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים

As a father has compassion on his children

כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ:

so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy.

לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה,

Deliverance is Adonoy’s;

עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה:

upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ

Adonoy of Hosts is with us,

מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה:

a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת,

Adonoy of Hosts!

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ:

fortunate is the man who trusts in You.

יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה,

Adonoy, deliver us!

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:

the King will answer us on the day we call.

קהל ואח"כ חזן:

The Chazzan repeats after the congregation:

סְלַח נָא לַעֲו‍ֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה,

“Please pardon the sins of this nation

כְּגֹֽדֶל

in accordance with the greatness

חַסְדֶּֽךָ.

of Your lovingkindness;

וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה.

and as You forgave this people

מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה.

from when it left Egypt until now.”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

הקהל אומרים:

The Congregation says:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה

“And Adonoy said,

סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:

I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”

הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע,

Incline Your ear, my God, and hear,

פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ,

open Your eyes and behold our desolate places,

וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ

and the city which is called by Your Name;

כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ,

for it is not on account of our righteousness

אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ,

that we let fall our supplication before You,

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:

but because of Your great mercy.

אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה,

My Master, hear! My Master, pardon!

אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה,

My Master, listen and take action,

אַל תְּאַחַר.

do not delay!

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי,

For Your sake, my God,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא

because Your Name is proclaimed

עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:

over Your city and over Your people.